Marc Richards’ side will be looking to return to winning ways in the National League South this weekend when hosting Chippenham Town in Evesham on Saturday afternoon.The Tigers haven’t played since January 6 when they suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Weston-Super-Mare. They have won just one game in their previous nine games in all competitions and are in need of three points on Saturday to give them a much needed boost as they look to bid for survival in the National League South this season.
The problem that Richards’ side have had this season is scoring goals, with top scorer Joe Parker with a mere seven goals to his name. The Tigers manager has made it his number one priority to sign a striker in the January transfer window.
The Tigers have struggled since moving from the National League North to the National League South this season, and the fact they remain away from their home ground in Gloucester remains a problem. They currently sit 21st in the league, and are in real danger of being relegated.
They’ll be hoping to make it two wins out of a possible 10 when hosting Chippenham on the weekend, with the visitors currently sitting 17th in the National League South table but Richards’ side could move ahead of them with three points on Saturday afternoon.
NEXT UP | After a weekend where our closest league rivals have dropped points, we host @ChipTownFC at the Jubilee Stadium, Evesham this Saturday 27th Jan. Kick Off: 15:00. pic.twitter.com/mBugHN4RXP
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) January 22, 2018
Chippenham Town are also enduring a torrid time in the National League South this season, and are currently 20th in the form table.
With both teams in a relegation scrap, Saturday is a big game for both teams, and Richards’ side, in particular, will be eyeing a vital three points to give them some momentum heading into some tough fixtures, including another big game down at the basement against Poole Town next weekend in Evesham.
It won’t be an easy task for the Tigers to survive this season but if they can re-discover their form from last season, when they finished in 10th place, then it is certainly possible and a win against Chippenham could be the perfect medicine to kick-start their stuttering season.
KEY PLAYERS
Gloucester City (Ed Williams)
Cheltenham-born central midfielder Williams has already matched his total from last season, and has five goals in 18 appearances for the Tigers and is Richards’ second top scorer – he is a big threat from midfield and will hope to add to his tally against Chippenham Town on Saturday.
Chippenham Town (Will Richards)
The Welshman has been superb for the visitors this season and the midfielder is the Bluebirds top scorer this season having netted on seven occasions so far this season. He hasn’t scored in his previous five encounters, but before that, he had buried four goals in four games and could prove to be a threat for the Tigers backline.
PREVIOUS MEETNGS
There has only ever been one previous meeting between these two sides, as the Tigers beat Chippenham Town in the FA Cup during the 2012/2013 season, as a 1-0 win was enough to advance to the next round of the competition.
(Featured image: Quisnovus)
